UPDATE: By 10 a.m., Santorum had left the New Beginnings restaurant in Kentwood, and plans to fly to Maumee, Ohio for an afternoon appearance.

GRANDVILLE – GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum started his last day of campaigning in the Michigan primary this morning with a quick round of handshakes at a Grandville restaurant that was filled to capacity with patrons anticipating his visit.

Santorum arrived at The Rainbow Grill, 4158 Chicago Drive SW, about a half-hour behind schedule. He greeted customers inside for about 15 minutes before dashing out the door for his next stop, the New Beginnings restaurant, 4415 Broadmoor Ave. SE.

Santorum plans to attend a rally in Maumee, Ohio at midday before ending his day at an election night party at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. Polls show he is running neck and neck with Mitt Romney.

Santorum is appealing to conservative Republicans who question Romney’s conservative credentials as a former Massachusetts governor, and Christian evangelicals who question his religious leanings as a Mormon.

"I like his stand on things that are important to me, like Right to Life and family values," said Phil Ouwinga, a roof contractor from Jenison who was waiting to see Santorum outside the Rainbow Grill. "As for Romney, it seems like he's changed his mind over the years."

Mike Keueger of Hudsonville said he likes Santorum's everyman quality. "He seems like a real down-to-earth guy," said Keueger, also waiting at the restaurant. "I just want someone to get the economy rolling again."

Santorum has not discussed Romney’s faith, but he’s made plenty of references to his own, talking about his devout Catholicism. He also has said President Barack Obama’s agenda “is based on "some phony theology. Not a theology based on the Bible. A different theology."